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Robin Hood Tax gathers more support at TUC Congress

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Robin Hood Tax at TUC Congress

The Robin Hood Tax campaign is a campaign for a financial transaction tax of around 0.05% to be levied on all financial transactions to ensure that those responsible for the current crisis, the financial sector, pay more towards meeting both domestic and international needs in this time of economic uncertainty. This campaign is a growing coalition of 110 domestic, international, faith-led and environmental organisations and has had huge support from trade unions.

On stage at Congress

Sharan BurrowAt TUC Congress the support for this campaign was evident. The ITUC General Secretary Sharan Burrow and the ETUC General Secretary John Monks called for the introduction of a financial transactions tax during their keynote speeches to congress.

The Robin Hood Tax campaign video was shown in the main hall to over 800 delegates and numerous speakers over the four days pledged their support to the campaign as an alternative to the swingeing cuts being imposed by the coalition government.

Robin Hood Tax fringe meeting

On the fringe, a packed fringe meeting discussed whether Robin Hood could save our public services and protect the world's poor.

Brendan Barber and David Threlfall Panel at the fringe meeting David Hillman

The meeting was chaired by the GMB's Paul Kenny and addressed by David Threlfall, actor (Frank in Shameless/RSC) and campaigner and advocate for Save the Children, David Hillman from Stamp Out Poverty, Chris Keates from NASUWT and Polly Jones from Unison.

David ThrelfallThe speakers made the moral and technical arguments for a financial transactions tax, talking about this tax as a challenge to the 'there is no alternative' dogma pervading the debate on the economy.

David Threlfall spoke of his commitment to social justice, his experiences growing up in Manchester and the seriousness of child poverty in the area and what he has seen in the global south, on trips with save the children.

David Hillman took the room on a whistle stop, but fascinating tour of the facts and figures behind the campaign and the achievements of the campaign to date.

His presentation can be viewed here.

Chris Keates' union NASUWT submitted an amendment on the Robin Hood Tax that was debated by congress and she spoke of the need to protect education and public services but also to honour our obligations to the world's poor.

Polly Jones from Unison talked about how Unison have engaged their members on the campaign and the need for more unions get to more involved in the future direction of the campaign.

The attendees were very involved asking questions ranging from how this could work in practice to how they could get more involved in the campaign.

Union support

Sally HuntThroughout the congress trade union leaders were lining up to show their support for the campaign.

Sally Hunt, General Secretary of the University and College Union

'If the oft-repeated maxim that 'we're all in this together' is to stand up to any kind of scrutiny then the government needs to demonstrate some commitment to exploring new and innovative ways to generate income to tackle the fallout from the global economic crisis and to pay for the recovery.

We remain astounded by George Osborne's commitment to slashing corporation tax for the biggest profiteers and his opposition to a Robin Hood Tax, which would be a simple and effective way of making those that caused the mess to clean it up.'

Paul KennyPaul Kenny, General Secretary of the GMB

'High roller casino capitalists in banks and finance caused the crisis, but we are left suffering the pain.

A Robin Hood Tax will begin to right some disgraceful wrongs'


Dave PrentisDave Prentis, General Secretary of Unison

'Unison supports a financial transactions tax because it could raise £250 billion a year for international development, public services and tackling climate change, including £20 billion for public services in the UK. It is a simple and effective alternative to making cuts, where those responsible for the financial crisis, the banks, meet some of the costs."



Chris KeatesChris Keates General Secretary of NASUWT

'The NASUWT supports the campaign for a FTT because it demonstrates there is a real alternative to budget cuts'

With the strength of the International Trade Union movement brought to the growing coalition of the Robin Hood Tax campaign and with leaders from numerous countries backing the call there is still a very real opportunity to secure the introduction of a financial transactions tax of some form. Only this week Spain's leader joined with other EU leaders to call for a Financial Transactions Tax

The pressure needs to be kept up so sign up today www.robinhoodtax.org or www.facebook.com/robinhoodtax and take part in the regular campaign actions.

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